TITLE TIME HEATS UP AGAIN THIS WEEKEND AT SEEKONK SPEEDWAY
SEEKONK, Mass. — Just two weeks remain in the Seekonk Speedway short-track championship season, with the Sunoco Drive For The Cup hitting the home stretch. Champions will be crowned on September 25-26, but first, Seekonk Speedway returns to action with playoff round three this Friday and Saturday.
It’s been a perfect start to the Sunoco Drive For The Cup playoff for Nick Lascuola. The driver of the No. 39 captured feature wins in the first two weeks, holding off Dave Darling to accomplish the task in both of them. That has allowed Lascuola to open a four-point lead in the playoff standings over nine-time champion Darling with two events remaining. Once Lascuola takes the green in the next event, Vinnie Arrenegado, who entered the playoffs as the third seed, will be eliminated. Mike Brightman has already been eliminated from championship contention.
LASCUOLA - 17
DARLING - 13
ARRENEGADO - 7
BRIGHTMAN - 3
Chase Belcher’s victory in the second round of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup opened his lead with two races remaining in the championship battle. Belcher now leads by six points over Charlie Rose, with Richie Murray seven points back and Ryan Vanasse Jr. nine. Rose won the first race of the playoffs, but wasn’t on top of his game in week two. Belcher held off a furious charge from Murray to win the second playoff event. Going into week three, it’s unclear what will happen. But the gap Belcher has in the championship standings certainly gives him a buffer in his quest to finally capture his first Late Model crown. Look for Manny Dias, Brenden LaBelle and others to try and contend for the victory alongside them this week in the 35-lap feature.
BELCHER - 15
ROSE - 9
MURRAY - 8
VANASSE - 6
The Sportsman championship fight has closed up, with all four playoff contenders in position to fight for the crown with two races remaining. The buffer Randy Moretti entered the Sunoco Drive For The Cup with has closed up, with Moretti now leading by just one point over Scott Serydynski Jr. In the first two playoff events, Serydynski has been the highest finishing playoff contender. Doug Benoit and Nick Brightman are still within the mix, just four points each off the lead. If you factor in momentum, Serydynski certainly has that on his side. But Moretti has shown his speed all year. And Benoit and Brightman are not out of the fight yet. The Sportsman are back for 30 laps this week, with the four playoff contenders joined by at least 20 others the last few weeks in feature competition.
MORETTI - 12
SERYDYNSKI - 11
BENOIT - 8
BRIGHTMAN - 8
The Sport Truck championship battle is the tightest of all 10 Seekonk Speedway divisions going to the final two events. Richie Helger Jr. used a victory, and a second-place finish, to push himself into the lead, ahead of Ethan Heilborn by one point. Heilborn, who won Saturday night, now has quietly put himself in position to have a great chance to win the title. Scott Cestodio, who entered the playoffs at the top, is still well in the mix, only two points out. Defending champion Jake Vanada has continued his consistency and remains in the fight, just three points off the lead. Which one of the four has the most momentum? It’s hard to say. They are all well within reach of capturing the title, while they race the rest of the division for the feature win in the final two. The Sport Trucks are back this week with extra-distance, 30 laps.
HELGER - 11
HEILBORN - 10
CESTODIO - 9
VANADA - 8
The buffer Jacob Burns entered the Sunoco Drive For The Cup with has closed up with two races remaining. Burns now leads Mason Tessier by just two points going down the stretch run. Tessier opened the Sunoco Drive For The Cup by winning the first two events handily, bringing the heat to Burns and the competition. While those two battle, Richie Helger Jr., nine playoff points behind Burns, will be eliminated once Burns takes the green flag in one more event. Brody Wakefield, who entered the fourth seed in the playoffs, has mathematically been eliminated. Going into the final few weeks, keep your eyes on names like Brian Wilkinson Jr., Dylan Calabro and others to look to capture victory. It looks like a two-man race between Burns and Tessier for the title.
BURNS - 16
TESSIER - 14
A victory in round two of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup helped Ethan Souza opened his lead a bit in the Pure Stock championship battle with two races remaining before the champion is crowned. Souza leads by four points over Richie Johnson, with Bryson Robidoux five points back in third. As long as Souza takes the green flag in one of the last two events, Brent Robidoux will be eliminated from contention. The race for the crown will go right down to the final laps, and while the playoff contenders battle for it, they will also be racing a stacked field of competitors. Zachary Keith led many laps last week before settling for second. Crystal Murray was on the podium in third. And you can watch for names like Peter Bleau, Bobby Bettencourt III and others in the 25-lap contest this week.
ETHAN SOUZA - 14
RICHIE JOHNSON - 10
BRYSON ROBIDOUX - 9
BRENT ROBIDOUX - 4
A scary fire last week sent Arthur Meack to the pit area before the conclusion of the Sport 4 feature, continuing to tighten up the championship standings with two races remaining. Meack now leads by two playoff points over Samantha Sleboda and Daniel Hayes, who are both tied. Hayes and Sleboda have won the first two races of the playoffs, gaining crucial bonus points to help close the gap to the top. Going into the final two events, Jacob Budzyna is still mathematically in contention, but would need the top three to have something catastrophic strike. The Sport 4s are back for another 20 laps this week.
MEACK - 13
SLEBODA - 11
HAYES - 11
BUDZYNA - 5
Landon Solomito looks well on his way to the championship in the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits. As long as Solomito takes the green flag in the final two races of the season, no one will be able to catch him. Solomito is in position to capture a second straight championship in Seekonk’s youth racing division. While he chases that accomplishment, he will look for his eighth and ninth wins of the season in the final two weeks. The race for second in the final championship standings is extremely tight heading for the final two weeks. Jace Chaber currently holds that spot, ahead of Elias Dib by six points, and Tobey Lecuyer and Brody Solomito by just 12 points. Positions two through five in the final standings
Luka Dib has officially clinched his first championship at Seekonk Speedway. The driver of the No. 13 has a whopping 23 playoff points, and no matter what happens over the final two weeks, no one can close the gap. Dib will look to add an 11th, or maybe even 12th victory in the final two weeks to go along with his championship trophy. While Dib has sealed up the title, the race for second in the final championship standings is up for grabs. Zacarias Kelly leads Ryder Aguiar by four points, which is two spots on the track, going into the final two weeks. The battle for fourth is also tight, with Landon Heim leading Allyha DeSomma by just four points. CJ Satterlund isn’t far behind, just 18 points back from third. The battle is on over the final two weeks in the final 15-lap feature events of the season.
The One Way Recycling Crown Vic Cruisers championship battle is nearly decided. Mike Cavallaro looks to be en route to sealing up a seventh championship, which would put him into elite company, joining only three other drivers in track history with seven or more titles. As long as Cavallaro takes the green flag in one of the final two races, he will be seal the crown. Last week, a few returning contenders spiced up the division even more, with Chase Curtis getting to Victory Lane. Who wins this week in their 20-lap feature? Cavallaro, John Dulac or John Lallier? Or will an invader come back to steal the show again? Time will tell.
Tickets for all remaining Seekonk Speedway events are available online at SeekonkSpeedway.com. Fans are encouraged to follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates.
